OBIT: Ella Zuma BAER, 1945, Somerset, Somerset County, PA

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Meyersdale Library.
Transcribed and proofread by: Richard Boyer.

Copyright 2007.  All rights reserved.
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ELLA ZUMA BAER

  Miss Ella Zuma Baer, 69, owner and manager of the Somerset House, died in 
Community Hospital, Saturday morning from a heart condition, super induced by a 
fractured left femur and hip joint which she suffered in a fall, April 4, while 
descending the rear stairs in the hotel.
  Born in Greenville Township, June 9, 1875, a daughter of the late Isaiah and 
Elizabeth Miller Baer, she resided there until young womanhood, when she learned 
the dressmaking trade in Meyersdale, under tutelage of Mrs. Liza Wahl.  She 
followed that vocation about four years, before going to Somerset to work as 
first cook in the old Commercial Hotel, for the late Edward Grove.
  Upon the death of Mr. Grove, his widow purchased the Somerset House from 
William H. Kantner, and Ella Baer went with Mrs. Grove to that hotel, early in 
the second decade of the 1900's.  During her long years of hotel work, in which 
time she served as cook and later as supervisor, for various owners, Miss Ella 
Baer worked indefatigably in the oldest hotel structure in Somerset.  The 
Somerset House now standing is the third hotel on the same site to bear the 
name.  The first, built by Mrs. Ella A. Tayman, was a small brick structure and 
was destroyed in the fire of 1872.  Mrs. Tayman rebuilt and during the great 
fire of 1876, the hotel was again destroyed, along with all the business section 
of the town.  Again the hotel was rebuilt, to its present size by Mrs. Tayman 
who operated it for many years.
  In 1900 Mrs. Tayman retired and the hotel changed ownership several times 
before Miss Baer, who served under the successive management, purchased it from 
the late Norman E. Knepper in July, 1919, for herself and immediately proceeded 
to remodel, enlarge and modernize it.
  Under her ownership and management it increased in popularity and prosperity 
until the present time.  Her nephew, Elmer Lint, entered her employ as hotel 
clerk when still quite a young man and later took over the ownership and 
management of the restaurant and bar in the basement of the hotel.
  Throughout her long years of serving the public, Ella Baer displayed 
shrewdness, investing her surplus in apartment-house properties, and catering to 
the public.  She never turned a hungry or needy person away and sometimes kept 
people several months or years, providing room and board, in return for small 
services they could do for her.
  Her kindness and generosity won for her a host of friends throughout the 
county.
  She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and a faithful attendant, except 
when her physical condition forbade.  Her health had been failing for several 
years, before the fall which resulted in her death.
  She is survived by one brother, William G. Baer of Greenville Township; and 
four sisters, namely, Mrs. Rosie Lint-Weigle, Somerset; Mrs. Sadie Albright, 
formerly of Meyersdale, now residing in Baltimore; Mrs. Frank Keefer, Somerset, 
and Mrs. Bruce Cook, Weehauken, N.J.
  Miss Baer was preceded in death by her father in 1914, and her mother in 1941, 
and by three sisters and a brother: Lena and Ida Baer of Greenville Township; 
Mrs. John C. Kretchman, Meyersdale, and Elmer Baer, Greenville Township. 
  There are seven nieces and nephews who survive: Elmer Lint, Somerset; Mrs. 
George Clark, Baltimore; Mrs. Marie Griffith, Washington, D.C.; Mrs. Bruce 
Phillips, Meyersdale; Miss Elizabeth Cook, Weehauken, N.J.; Estelle Baer, Akron, 
O.; Pearl Baer, Akron, O.; Mrs. Sylvia Hutzel, Mrs. Ruth Decker, and Lucille 
Baer, all of Greenville Township.
  Brief funeral services were conducted in the east parlor of her hotel, Tuesday 
afternoon by Rev. Dr. I. Hess Wagner, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, after 
which her body was taken to the Greenville Township Lutheran Church where 
additional services were conducted by Dr. Wagner and Rev. George Bowersox of 
Salisbury, pastor of the Greenville church, followed by interment in the church 
cemetery, under the direction of Mortician Charles R. Hauger of Somerset.

Meyersdale Republican, April 19, 1945